An applet is a program written in Java that runs within another application, often a web browser. It adds functionality to websites and has built-in security controls. Applets are used for online media, filling forms, playing games, and e-commerce. They can be customized through HTML and mobile devices have an inherent software framework to run applets. Signed applets can gain full access to the host system with user permission.
An applet is a special type of computer program that is intended to run only within another software application. The term is most commonly used to describe programs written in the Java programming language. These programs are designed to add functionality and interactivity to websites where the standard hypertext markup language (HTML) is insufficient. Mobile devices like cell phones also use applets, but they might do it differently.
There are many differences between an applet and a standard computer application. The biggest distinction is that an applet can only be executed by another program already on the system, most often a web browser or other specialized interpreter. This provides greater security and allows the applet to be platform independent as the language in which it is written is translated by each different operating system as needed.
One of the benefits of using an applet instead of an application is the built-in implementation of very stringent security controls. A standard applet runs in a highly restricted mode where it is unable to access any system resources directly. The software running the program may restrict access so that it does not know which system it is running on. Alternatively, there are types of applets that can implement enhanced security methods that allow for more access at the user’s discretion.
Web browsers frequently use Java applets to provide users with access to different types of online media without requiring the installation of an entirely separate program. An applet can also be used to make it easier to fill in online forms, to display images dynamically or to allow you to play games. Applets also enjoy widespread use in the e-commerce market, where they are used to communicate securely with a server during shopping.
When used through a web browser, applets can be highly customized without the need to rewrite the software. This is done through the use of HTML. When called from within an HTML document for a website, various parameters can be passed to the program directly from within the HTML code. This mechanism allows you to easily customize a single applet across multiple websites.
Mobile devices use applets a little differently. Many devices include an inherent software framework that allows applets to work independently of any other programs. This method provides all the security and portability of a standard implementation without having to package the program in a separate software container.
Even though applets are designed to work in a secure environment where the host system cannot be harmed, there are ways to gain full access to the system. Java applets can be signed, which means that if the system user trusts the program, they will be allowed access to the host system’s files and resources. These types of security exceptions always prompt the user first to allow access.
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